LINK: Tidewater Comicon 2017 Early Bird Vendor Pricing Ends September 31

Sign up now before the prices go up on October 1.

“The BFG” comes to Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and Disney Movies Anywhere December 6

Press Release:

STEVEN SPIELBERG’S IMAGINATION AND DISNEY MAGIC COME TOGETHER TO BRING ROALD DAHL’S BELOVED CLASSIC TO LIFE

“The BFG” comes to Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and Disney Movies Anywhere Dec. 6

This magical tale of an extraordinary friendship loaded with exciting extras will brighten the holidays for the whole family!

BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 23, 2016 — This month, the world celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl, beloved children’s author of family favorites like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda” and Dahl’s personal favorite, “The BFG,” as well as World Dream Day, an annual event honoring “the dreamer, visionary and innovator in all of us.” It seems a fitting time to announce the in-home release of “The BFG,” Disney’s fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, on Dec. 6 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand.

As dreamers around the globe gear up for Sunday’s World Dream Day, an annual holiday honoring “the dreamer, visionary and innovator in all of us,” it seems a fitting time to announce the in-home release of “The BFG,” Disney’s fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and featuring a dream-collecting Big Friendly Giant. This heartwarming tale for the whole family arrives home for the holidays on Dec. 6 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand.

“The BFG” unites the talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg – to bring to life the classic tale of a courageous little girl named Sophie (newcomer Ruby Barnhill) and a gentle and charming Big Friendly Giant (Oscar®-winner Mark Rylance) who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. Spielberg employs a new, hybrid style of filmmaking blending live-action and performance-capture techniques, resulting in genuine, heartfelt performances and super-photorealistic animation.

Families and fans will be swept away by this spectacular adventure and delight in extensive bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes look at the making of “The BFG” hosted by Ruby Barnhill and featuring Steven Spielberg; a charming, all-new short; a fun and whimsical tutorial on the Big Friendly Giant’s unique language of Gobblefunk; a touching tribute to screenwriter Melissa Mathison (“E.T. the Extraterrestrial,” “The Black Stallion”); and more.

Spielberg’s directorial debut with The Walt Disney Studios was a labor of love, as he’s been a fan of Dahl’s for years. In fact, he read “The BFG” to his own children when they were younger. According to Spielberg, “It’s a story about friendship; it’s a story about loyalty and protecting your friends; and it’s a story that shows that even a little girl can help a big giant solve his biggest problems.” “The BFG” is a Golden Phizzwizard* come true for Spielberg, Dahl fans and audiences around the world.

Bonus features include**:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:

• Bringing “The BFG” to Life – Ruby Barnhill (Sophie) hosts a phizz-whizzing journey through the making of “The BFG.” This behind-the-scenes documentary details the film’s progression through interviews with Roald Dahl’s daughter Lucy Dahl, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, executive producers Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Kristie Macosko Krieger, and numerous members of the talented cast and crew.

• The Big Friendly Giant and Me – Sophie wasn’t the first “bean” in Giant Country—many illustrations were created as if drawn by a little boy who was there long before Sophie.  This charming, in-world short will bring the drawings to life with animation and narration, recounting the friendship and the dreams shared between the boy and the Big Friendly Giant.
• Gobblefunk:  The Wonderful Words of The BFG – A whoopsey-splunkers tutorial on the meaning of the gloriumptious gobblefunk in “The BFG.”
• Giants 101 – Jemaine Clement (Fleshlumpeater) and Bill Hader (Bloodbottler) introduce us to the loathsome giants in “The BFG,” along with movement choreographer/motion capture performer Terry Notary, who collaborated with the actors and Director Steven Spielberg prior to filming to develop their movements and character traits.
• Melissa Mathison: A Tribute – An homage to Melissa Mathison, the extraordinary, Oscar®-nominated screenwriter of “The BFG” and “E.T.,” whose talent and heart were as immense as the giants in “The BFG.”

DIGITAL/VOD:

• John Williams: Scoring A Dream – A journey through the film’s concept art and memorable moments, interwoven with the sights and sounds of legendary composer John William’s scoring session.

DVD:

• Gobblefunk:  The Wonderful Words of The BFG and Melissa Mathison: A Tribute

Disney and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Walden Media, present the fantasy adventure film “The BFG,” the first-ever motion picture adaptation of Roald Dahl’s resonant tale of childhood, the magic of dreams and the extraordinary friendship between a young girl and a big friendly giant. Directed by three-time Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, the film reunites the director with his Oscar®-nominated collaborator on “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” Melissa Mathison, who adapted the children’s author’s timeless adventure for the big screen. “The BFG” is produced by Spielberg, p.g.a., Frank Marshall, p.g.a., and Sam Mercer, p.g.a., with Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Michael Siegel serving as executive producers.

The film stars three-time Tony Award®, two-time Olivier Award and Oscar® winner Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant; newcomer Ruby Barnhill as Sophie, the orphan who befriends him and is swept into a world of rampaging giants; Penelope Wilton as The Queen; Jemaine Clement as Fleshlumpeater, the most fearsome giant from Giant Country; Rebecca Hall as Mary, The Queen’s handmaid; Rafe Spall as Mr. Tibbs, The Queen’s butler; and Bill Hader as Bloodbottler, another unruly giant from Giant Country.

The creative team is comprised of some of Spielberg’s longtime collaborators, including: two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography Janusz Kaminski; two-time Oscar-winning production designer Rick Carter; three time Oscar-winning editor Michael Kahn, A.C.E.; and Oscar-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston, with legendary five-time Oscar winner John Williams composing his 24^th score for a Spielberg-directed film.

Joining them is two-time Oscar® winner Robert Stromberg as production designer and four-time Oscar winner Joe Letteri from Weta Digital, the visual effects company founded by Peter Jackson, as senior visual effects supervisor.

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:

Product SKUs: Digital HD/SD, Blu-ray Superset (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy),

Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and Video On-Demand SD/HD

Feature Run Time: Approximately 117 minutes

Rating: PG in U.S., PG in CE, and G in CF

Aspect Ratio: Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / Widescreen 2.39:1

DVD Feature Film = Widescreen 2.39:1

Audio: Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA & 2.0 Descriptive Audio,

Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks

DVD = English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks,

English 2.0 Descriptive Audio

Languages/Subtitles: Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French

DVD = English SDH, Spanish and French

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: Facebook.com/TheBFGmovie

Website: Movies.Disney.com/The-BFG

Twitter: Twitter.com/BFGmovie

Website: Instagram.com/BFGmovie

ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA): 

Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it easy to buy Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies once and watch them anywhere. Viewers can enjoy their digital movies from the comfort of their living room and across multiple mobile platforms by simply adding the free DMA app or channel to their devices, such as iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android mobile phones and tablets, Android TV, Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Roku, and Xbox 360, and connecting to their DMA account with participating providers including iTunes, Amazon Video, VUDU, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV and Fios by Verizon. DMA users can explore Disney’s library of over 450 digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, redeem Digital Movie codes found in eligible Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars product, and earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

ABOUT ABMLIN PARTNERS:

Amblin Partners is a content creation company formed by DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment and Entertainment One (eOne). The company develops and produces films using the Amblin, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming.

*A wonderful dream in the BFG’s language of Gobblefunk

**Bonus features may vary by retailer

The Cast of Beauty and the Beast…25 Years Later

Press Release:

“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ” returned to Alice Tully Hall this evening, 25 years after it made its much acclaimed debut with a “work in progress’ screening, when Walt Disney Studios and the Film Society of Lincoln Center presented an exclusive screening in celebration of the “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION” release [which comes out today].

Richard White (voice of Gaston), Angela Lansbury (voice of Mrs. Potts), Paige O’Hara (voice of Belle) and Robbie Benson (voice of Beast).

 

ABOUT “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”:

Walt Disney Pictures’ magical animated classic “Beauty and the Beast” captures the magical journey of Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), an independent and intelligent, modern-day heroine who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of Robby Benson) in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince. In honor of the film’s 25^th anniversary, this tale as old as time joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Sept. 6 on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere, and on Sept. 20 on Blu-ray™ and DVD.

For more information, visit www.BeOurGuest.com and connect with us at www.Facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast.

Phoenix FearCON Becomes FANGORIA FearCON with 2016 Show

Press Release:

Phoenix FearCON Celebrates 10th Anniversary as FANGORIA FearCON

TEMPE, Ariz. – SUN STUDIOS of Arizona presents FANGORIA FearCON, the state’s largest, independent horror event from Friday, October 7 through Sunday, October 9 at the studio.

“Phoenix FearCON is now FANGORIA FearCON,” said festival director Chris McLennan. She and her husband Jim are preparing for their seventh convention since 2006. “We’ve come a long way by partnering with FANGORIA Magazine and SUN STUDIOS.”

FANGORIA FearCON will screen features and shorts, including the Phoenix debut of MODEL HUNGER which stars horror film icons Lynn Lowry (SHIVERS) and Tiffany Shepis (TALES OF HALLOWEEN). Both actresses will participate in a question and answer session after the screening.

“As usual, we will have celebrity autograph sessions and photo ops,” added McLennan. Among the other terror film favorites scheduled to appear are Eugene Clark (LAND OF THE DEAD), J. LaRose (SAW III), Robert Mukes (HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES) and Monique Parent (BLOODTHIRSTY).

On Friday night, VIP ticket holders will enjoy a private bar and live performances by Romantasy Cabaret, Agents of Lust and The Gaslight Circus. VIP tickets cost $150, include a “horrorific” swag bag filled with goodies, and are good for all three days of FANGORIA FearCON.

Friday-only tickets are $30, good from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and do not include the VIP party. Saturday or Sunday tickets are $40 each and good from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. All tickets are subject to availability, but may be purchased online now at http://events.sunstudiosaz.com/2016/08/15/fangoria-fearcon.

There is no entry fee to purchase food and drink at the Halloween Festival outside or to access vendors inside the studio.

A portion of the proceeds from FANGORIA FearCON benefits the Phoenix Shanti Group which provides housing, education and support to HIV/AIDS patients and their families.

With two sound stages and a 225-seat theater featuring digital projection and surround sound, SUN STUDIOS of Arizona was the ideal location for FANGORIA FearCON. “I used to stand in line for Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors in L.A.,” said SUN STUDIOS CEO Darrin Ramage, who has produced and distributed horror movies for more than 20 years. “The last one was in 2009, so imagine how excited I am to be hosting FANGORIA FearCON 2016!”

SUN STUDIOS is conveniently located at 1425 W. 14th Street; just minutes away from ASU, Tempe Campus and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Festival parking will be within walking distance.

About FANGORIA FearCON
The first Phoenix FearCON Film Festival was held at the Paper Heart Gallery in 2006. As attendance grew, PFC moved to the Fear Farm Haunted House and is celebrating its 10th anniversary as FANGORIA FearCON at SUN STUDIOS of Arizona in Tempe. For the latest news, visit www.Facebook.com/FANGORIAFearCON.

About SUN STUDIOS of Arizona
SUN STUDIOS of Arizona in Tempe officially opened on May 1, 2016. The multimillion dollar production facility, event venue/theater and recording studio offers two sound stages, a massive green-screen cyclorama, plus a complete array of professional grade production and recording equipment. See more at www.sunstudiosaz.com.

About FANGORIA Entertainment
FANGORIA Magazine first published in 1979 as the brainchild of Ed Naha, Ric Meyers and Robert Martin. In 1985, Martin hosted the first FANGORIA’s Weekend of Horrors convention, followed six years later by the inaugural CHAINSAW AWARDS for horror films. Today, loyal fans flock to www.Facebook.com/Fangoria.

About Phoenix Shanti Group
Founded in 1987, the Phoenix Shanti Group provides housing, education and support to individuals infected with, and families or loved ones affected by, HIV/AIDS. “Shanti” is Sanskrit for “Inner Peace” and reflects PSG’s approach of promoting personal empowerment and maintaining independence and dignity. See more at www.shantiaz.org.

2017 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity Nominations Now Open

Press Release:

Nominations for the 2017 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics Are Open

Announcing Will J. Watkins As Director of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics & New Selection Committee Members Mark D. Bright, Don McGregor, Kevin Rubio, Cassandra Pelham and Gail Simone

September 16, 2016: Mad Event Entertainment and Long Beach Comic Con announced today that nominations for the 2017 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics are now open. This McDuffie Award has a new director, Will J. Watkins, and several new Selection Committee Members: Mark D. Bright, Don McGregor, Kevin Rubio, Cassandra Pelham and Gail Simone. The third annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics reception will be held February 18, 2017, in Long Beach, CA during the Long Beach Comic Expo.

The motto of The Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics comes from Dwayne’s own words, “From invisible to inevitable.”

“The Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics is the very first award ever established in my husband’s name,” said Dwayne’s widow, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie, “and we are tremendously proud that in just its third year, both the comic book and animation industries are already beginning to see some evidence of the DMAD’s powerful mission statement demonstrably influencing reality by helping a more diverse range of outstanding creative voices finally find some inclusion in the media, with the careers of our first two winners and finalists starting to take off at major entertainment companies. To paraphrase Dwayne: Everyone deserves to see themselves represented in the media. And everyone deserves to participate in telling their own story.”

To commemorate his vision and contributions, the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, grand opening September 24th, has invited Dwayne McDuffie to be included for posterity.

“Everyone has heroes, but most people never get the chance to ensure that their hero’s legacy will endure,” said Watkins. “Dwayne McDuffie was my hero, and for the last two years I’ve been honored to be on the selection committee for an award in his name that promotes diversity and inclusion in the comic book industry. This year I’m doubly honored to be the award’s director, and my efforts to ensure Dwayne’s legacy endures will be nothing short of heroic.”

The deadline for completed submissions for the third annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics is December 31, 2016.

“Long Beach Comic Con and Long Beach Comic Expo are committed to celebrating diversity in comics,” said Martha Donato, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Long Beach Comic Expo, on the eve of Long Beach Comic Con. “This is not a fad, this is not an isolated moment. We are committed to diversity in storytelling. Last year, the number of submissions were three times that of the first award last year–and a third of those were from women. This is the future.”

The Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics Selection Committee consists of twelve prominent comics and animation professionals who have demonstrated a commitment to McDuffie’s vision of inclusiveness:

• Mark D. Bright is a storyboard artist for commercials, television and feature films. Prior to his career as a storyboard artist, he was an artist for Marvel, DC, Acclaim and Milestone Media working on titles including Iron Man, Green Lantern, G.I. Joe, Power Man and Iron Fist and Icon. He is also the co-creator of Quantum and Woody.
• Neo Edmund – is a former child actor turned bestselling author, screenwriter, comic book writer, story development exec, and Virtual Reality director. He is the author of The Red Riding Alpha Huntress series published by WordFire Press. He is currently writing numerous books including a Predator anthology and the reboot of Colt The Outlander.
• Joan Hilty is Comics Editor at Nickelodeon and editor-in-chief of Pageturner, a boutique comics/graphic novel production house. She was formerly a Senior Editor at DC/Vertigo and syndicated cartoonist. She teaches at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and the Maryland Institute College of Art.
• Joseph Illidge is a Senior Editor for Lion Forge Comics, a columnist for Comic Book Resources and The Shadow League, and the co-writer of Solarman for Scout Comics. His editorial career began at Milestone Media, Inc. He then joined the Batman Editorial Group at DC Comics, and later worked for Archaia, now a division of BOOM! Studios. His graphic novel, The Ren will be published by First Second Books, a division of Macmillan.
• Heidi MacDonald is the editor-in-chief of Comicsbeat.com and a former editor for Disney and DC Comics. She also edits the graphic novel review section for Publishers Weekly and can be heard on PW’s weekly podcast More To Come.
• Don McGregor is a writer whose notable comic books for Marvel Comics include Jungle Action, where he did the seminal work on Black Panther and Amazing Adventures Featuring Killraven, which contained the first interracial kiss in a color comic book. He also created Sabre, one of the first modern graphic novels. Don’s groundbreaking career garnered him the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing last year.
• Kevin Rubio is a writer/producer who has contributed to Justice League Action, Avengers Assemble, Thunderbirds Are Go!, Green Lantern: The Animated Series and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. He is also the creator and writer of the Star Wars graphic novel Tag & Bink Were Here and Red 5 Publication’s Abyss Vol. I & II. He is an inaugural recipient of the George Lucas Film Award for his Star Wars short film, TROOPS, a Promax Award winner and Emmy nominee.
• Cassandra Pelham is a senior editor for the Graphix and Scholastic Press imprints at Scholastic, where she has edited award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling, and USA Today bestselling graphic novels.
• Gail Simone is a writer known for the DC titles Birds of Prey, Secret Six (for which she was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award), Batgirl, Wonder Woman and The All-New Atom. She recently wrote Dark Horse’s Tomb Raider, Dynamite’s Red Sonja and is currently working on DC/Vertigo’s Clean Room.
• Will J. Watkins is a film and animation writer who is also comic book story/world-building consultant on The Protectors graphic novel published this year by Athlita Comics. He had a stint as an assistant editor at DC Comics and before moving to L.A. he owned Chicago’s first African American-owned comics store and is currently writing a novel about the experience.
• Matt Wayne has written on many highly-regarded animation projects including Niko and the Sword of Light, Cannon Busters, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Avengers: Ultron Revolution, Thunderbirds Are Go! and the 2006 Biker Mice from Mars revival. He wrote the Emmy-nominated Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms and was also a writer and Managing Editor at Milestone Media. was the Managing Editor of Milestone Media, and is currently a Primetime Emmy®-nominated animation writer. His credits include Static Shock!, Justice League Unlimited, Hellboy: Sword of Storms, Ben 10: Omniverse, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Avengers: Ultron Revolution, Thunderbirds are Go!, Niko and the Sword of Light, and Cannon Busters.
• Len Wein is the legendary animation and comic book writer who co-created Swamp Thing, Wolverine, and the wildly successful diverse new team of X-Men that debuted in 1975; He’s had the distinction of serving both as Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics and Senior Editor at DC Comics. The Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Famer’s most recent comic book Batman “66: The Lost Episode was released last year.

About Dwayne McDuffie:
Dwayne Glenn McDuffie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. The middle son of Leroy McDuffie and Edna (Hawkins) McDuffie (now Gardner), Dwayne attended the prestigious Roeper School for gifted children before going on to earn undergraduate degrees in both English & Physics as well as a graduate degree in Physics, all at the University of Michigan. (Go, Blue!) He later also studied filmmaking at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Dwayne first entered the comic book industry as an Editor at Marvel Comics, thanks to his NYU friend Greg Wright with whom he recreated the Deathlok character into the one in use today. With artist Ernie Colón, Dwayne also co-created the comedic Marvel team book, Damage Control.

Frustrated by the lack of diversity of both characters and creators in comics, Dwayne—together with Derek Dingle, Denys Cowan, and Michael Davis–co-founded MILESTONE COMICS (later MILESTONE MEDIA), the first African-American owned comic book company in history, with a mission to provide a wide array of characters, content, and creators that more accurately represent the racial, ethnic, religious, and gender diversity of real life. (Also? They were just outstandingly good books. Seriously. If you haven’t read them, seek them out. Now. You won’t believe what you’ve been missing!)

Static, Icon, Hardware, Xombi—to name just a few. Throughout his career in the comic book industry, Dwayne created or co-created these and more than a dozen other series, in addition to writing stories for too many other titles to list but here are some highlights: Justice League of America, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Captain marvel, Avengers Spotlight, Hellraiser, Ultraman, even The Tick, and Back to The Future. Dwayne also co-created The Road To Hell with fellow writer and Milestone editor, Matt Wayne, the inaugural Director of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, established posthumously by Dwayne’s widow, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie.

Dwayne transitioned into the animation industry as a Story Editor and Writer on the Emmy-winning Kids WB series, Static Shock, which he co-created and for which he won the 2003 HUMANITAS PRIZE.

Dwayne was also a Producer, Story Editor, and Writer on Cartoon Network’s JUSTICE LEAGUE and JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED animated series, for which he received a 2004 WRITERS GUILD nomination.

With artist Glen Murakami, Dwayne redeveloped Man of Action’s BEN 10 animated series into BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE then BEN 10: ULTIMATE ALIEN—98 episodes of what became and continues to be an on-going, blockbuster, 230-episodes-and-counting franchise for Cartoon Network.

Dwayne also wrote the animated features JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, and JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM, as well as episodes of WHAT’S NEW, SCOOBY-DOO? and TEEN TITANS, all for Warner Bros.

For his indelible work in animation, Dwayne was posthumously presented with the WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA’s 2011 ANIMATION WRITING AWARD, the first African-American in history to be so honored.

The winner of 3 EISNER AWARDS for his work in comic books, 11 PARENTS’ CHOICE AWARDS, 6 “BEST EDITOR” awards, the 2009 INKPOT AWARD presented by Comic-Con International, and a GOLDEN APPLE AWARD from his alma mater for his “use of popular art to promote and enhance human dignity,” Dwayne McDuffie’s life’s work exemplified both diversity and excellence.

He led by example while presciently stating, “From invisible to inevitable”–now the motto of the “Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics.” The man may be gone, but his mission lives on.

About Charlotte McDuffie:
Dwayne’s widow, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie, is a twice Emmy-nominated animation writer, best known for her work on Hasbro’s My Little Pony and Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 franchise. She is currently the first female chairperson in history of the Animation Writers Caucus at the Writers Guild of America.

About Long Beach Comic Con:
Long Beach Comic Con is an annual event held at the Long Beach Convention Center that celebrates comic books and pop culture and showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators and creators of all types of pop culture. At Long Beach Comic Con, you’ll find exhibitors promoting and selling all types of related products, as well as entertaining and educational programs for all ages, guest signings and meet & greet sessions with celebrities. Long Beach Comic Con is a MAD Event Management, LLC production. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit www.longbeachcomiccon.com.

Valiant Heads North for Buffalo Comicon 2016

Press Release:

Valiant Heads North for Buffalo Comicon 2016 with Panels, Merchandise, and More!

From Saturday, September 17th to Sunday, September 18th, Valiant is bringing its hard-hitting cross-country road show to Buffalo Comicon for a weekend packed with award-winning comic books, merchandise, programming, and panels!

All weekend long, join Valiant inside the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center at Booth Section S and see why Valiant is the leading independent superhero universe to beat with a complete selection of trade paperbacks, deluxe hardcovers, and t-shirts and merchandise for critically acclaimed and award winning titles including BLOODSHOT REBORN, BOOK OF DEATH, DIVINITY, FAITH, NINJAK, THE VALIANT, A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG, WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR, X-O MANOWAR, and many more!

Then, the action hits with the force of the Niagara on Saturday, September 17th at 1:00 p.m. in Panel Room 106 CV with VALIANT 101: NEW FANS START HERE – a concise and fun-filled introduction to Valiant’s biggest, most memorable characters! You’ve seen the reviews, you’ve heard the buzz… Now find out why Valiant Entertainment has taken fans and critics by storm as the most acclaimed comic book publisher! Join us here for a one-of-a-kind introduction to the largest and most acclaimed independent superhero universe in comics! From X-O MANOWAR and FAITH to BLOODSHOT REBORN and DIVINITY, get the stories behind Valiant’s biggest heroes and find out where to jump on board right here with an in-depth tutorial that’s perfect for new fans!

We’ll see you in the Queen City! And don’t miss a moment of the action as Valiant’s one-of-a-kind convention road show storms on through Buffalo, New York City, San Antonio, and more all year long!

Saturday, September 17th – Sunday, September 18th
Buffalo Comicon
Buffalo Niagra Convention Center
Buffalo, NY

Thursday, October 6th – Sunday, October 9th:
New York Comic Con
Jacob Javits Center
New York, NY

Friday, October 28th – Sunday, October 30th
Alamo City Comic Con
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, TX

Friday, November 11th – Sunday, November 13th
NC Comic Con
North Carolina Convention Center
Durham, NC

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

Valiant Unveils Panels and Screenings for NYCC 2016

Press Release:

NYCC 2016: Valiant Unveils Action-Packed Panels and Screenings for New York Comic Con 2016!

New York Comic Con 2016 is coming…and it’s going to be Valiant Entertainment’s biggest NYCC yet!

For the first time anywhere, Valiant is proud to reveal its staggering line-up of NYCC 2016 panels and presentations that will be taking over the Javits Center in the heart of New York City from Thursday, October 6th to Sunday, October 9th! Don’t miss a moment as the best-reviewed publisher in comics steps to the fore for a weekend packed with exclusive news announcements – including first word on Valiant’s TOP-SECRET, LIVE-ACTION PROJECT with Bat in the Sun, the producers of the smash-hit YouTube series Super Power Beat Down!

Plus: Valiant is taking over the city that never sleeps with a massive round of breaking news and in-depth discussions about some of the most talked-about series in comics today, includingBLOODSHOT U.S.A., BRITANNIA, DIVINITY III: STALINVERSE, FAITH, GENERATION ZERO, HARBINGER RENEGADES, NINJAK, SAVAGE, X-O MANOWAR, and many more!

Also coming soon: Stay tuned for the first word on a host of NYCC 2016 convention-only exclusives – including the debut of an all-new vinyl figurine and a slate of never-before-seen merchandise benefiting Valiant’s newest charitable partner!

We’ll see you in the Big Apple!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

---

VALIANT: SPOTLIGHT ON FAITH
Thursday, October 6th at 6:45 p.m.
Panel Room 1A05

From worldwide media attention to the best-selling independent superhero debut of 2016, Faith “Zephyr” Herbert has stolen the spotlight around the globe! Now find out what makes Valiant’s high-flying heroine tick as writers Jody Houser, Louise Simonson, Rafer Roberts, editor Tom Brennan, Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons, and CEO & CCO Dinesh Shamdasani dig deep to reveal the truth about Faith’s secret origin, her breakout solo debut and her future adventures! Get ready to #FlyLikeFaith!

Guests: Jody Houser, Rafer Roberts, Louise Simonson, Tom Brennan, Warren Simons, Dinesh Shamdasani, and Special Guests!

---

VALIANT: THE FUTURE OF VALIANT AND BEYOND
Friday, October 7th at 1:45 p.m.
Panel Room 1A05

With a record-setting 50 Harvey Award nominations, Valiant Entertainment is the most acclaimed publisher anywhere in comics today. Now, find out what’s next for powerhouse series like FAITH, GENERATION ZERO, BRITANNIA, BLOODSHOT U.S.A., HARBINGER RENEGADES, SAVAGE and DIVINITY III: STALINVERSE right here with an all-star cast of Panelists including Lewis LaRosa, Rafer Roberts, Fred Van Lente, Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons and CEO & CCO Dinesh Shamdasani! The future of Valiant starts here!

Guests: Lewis LaRosa, Rafer Roberts, Fred Van Lente, Warren Simons, Dinesh Shamdasani, and Special Guests!

---

VALIANT x BAT IN THE SUN: TOP-SECRET ANNOUNCEMENT
Saturday, October 8th at 2:45 p.m.
Panel Room 1A21

Valiant Entertainment, the most acclaimed publisher in comics today, and Bat in the Sun Productions, the team behind the YouTube sensation Super Power Beat Down, join forces for a feature-length live-action series! Join directors Aaron & Sean Schoenke, stars Michael Rowe (CW’s Arrow/Flash), Jason David Frank (Power Rangers), Derek Theler (Baby Daddy), Valiant’s top executives and more for a first look at footage from the top-secret project! Exclusive giveaway and signing to follow!!

Guests: Michael Rowe, Jason David Frank, John Morrison, Derek Theler, Chantelle Barry, Aaron & Sean Schoenke, Josh Johns, Dinesh Shamdasani, and Special Guests!

Valiant Expands 2016 Convention Tour with Eight New Dates

Press Release:

Valiant’s 2016 Convention Tour Expands with Eight New Dates Across the Country – Beginning at Fan Expo Canada!

Valiant is kicking its coast-to-coast road show into high gear…and getting ready to bring the most critically acclaimed superhero universe in comics today to hundreds of thousands of new fans throughout the US and Canada!

Valiant is proud to announce a new slate of additional dates for the Valiant 2016 Convention Tour – a months-long, nationwide celebration coming soon to a town near you! Continuing at Toronto’s Fan Expo Canada, Valiant’s one-of-a-kind convention set-up is getting ready to roll into Baltimore;Portland; New York City; San Antonio; and more:

Thursday, September 1st – Sunday, September 4th
Fan Expo Canada
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Toronto, CA

Friday, September 2nd – Sunday, September 4th
Baltimore Comic-Con 2016
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, MD

Saturday, September 10th – Sunday, September 11th
Rose City Comic Con
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, OR

Wednesday, September 14th
GameStop Expo 2016
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, CA

Saturday, September 17th  – Sunday, September 18th
Buffalo Comicon
Buffalo Niagra Convention Center
Buffalo, NY

Thursday, October 6th – Sunday, October 9th:
New York City Comic-Con
Jacob Javits Center
New York, NY

Friday, October 28th – Sunday, October 30th
Alamo City Comic Con
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, TX

Friday, November 11th – Sunday, November 13th
NC Comic Con
North Carolina Convention Center
Durham, NC

The year’s industry-leading celebration of your favorite superheroes takes flight in Toronto, CA at Fan Expo Canada 2016! From Thursday, September 1st through Sunday, September 4th, join Valiant at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for a weekend packed with programming, merchandise, and the best-reviewed comics in the industry!

Visit Booth #838 all weekend long to find out why Valiant has captured the nation’s biggest headlines and highest praise – including an unprecedented 50 Harvey Award nominations – with a complete collection of trade paperbacks and hardcovers featuring Valiant’s world-class roster of superheroes and villains, including X-O MANOWAR, BLOODSHOT REBORN, FAITH, DIVINITY, NINJAK, RAI,ARCHER & ARMSTRONG, HARBINGER and more! Then stick around for a universe of high-flying merchandise, including t-shirts and collectibles featuring X-O Manowar, Faith, Bloodshot, and more!

Plus: Get the inside scoop on the most celebrated superhero universe in comics on Friday, September 2nd at 3:45 PM in Room #717 with Valiant 101: New Fans Start Here ­– a concise and fun-filled introduction to Valiant’s biggest, most memorable characters! You’ve seen the reviews, you’ve heard the buzz… Now find out why Valiant Entertainment has taken fans and critics by storm as the most acclaimed comic book publisher! Join us here for a one-of-a-kind introduction to the largest and most acclaimed independent superhero universe in comics! From X-O MANOWAR and FAITH to BLOODSHOT REBORN and DIVINITY, get the stories behind Valiant’s biggest heroes and find out where to jump on board right here with an in-depth tutorial that’s perfect for new fans!

Then, peek into the unbelievable stories charging towards your favorite superheroes on Saturday, September 3rd at 11:00 AM in Room #713 for Valiant: The Future of Valiant and Beyond! Valiant Entertainment is the most acclaimed publisher anywhere in comics today… Now, find out what’s next for powerhouse series like FAITH, GENERATION ZERO, BRITANNIA, BLOODSHOT U.S.A., HARBINGER RENEGADES, SAVAGE, and DIVINITY III: STALINVERSE right here as the future of Valiant starts here with an exclusive round of news and announcements – only at Fan Expo Canada!

As Valiant continues to skyrocket towards the top of the charts, the road to this year’s most exciting announcements, exclusives, and can’t-miss comics begins right here with one of the biggest shows of the year, only at Fan Expo Canada!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com

Sean Maher to Attend Grand Rapids Comic-Con 2016

Press Release:

“Firefly”, “Arrow” Veteran Sean Maher To Attend Grand Rapids Comic-Con

Sean Maher is well known to television and film audiences for his role as ‘Dr. Simon Tam’ in Joss Whedon’s feature Serenity. The film was based on the critically acclaimed TV series “Firefly”.

He moved to Los Angeles after landing the coveted title role in the FOX drama “Ryan Caufield: Year One.” Upon the cancellation of that series Maher secured a holding deal with FOX and collaborated with the network on the well loved series “Party Of Five” as well as Darren Star’s “The $treet”. Additional TV credits include “The Mentalist”, “Human Target,” and “Warehouse 13”.

In 2011 while playing closeted gay man Sean Beasely in 1960s Chicago on NBC’s provocative “The Playboy Club” Maher used the role as a platform to come out publicly as a gay man himself. Entertainment Weekly graciously covered the story and Maher regards that decision as one of the highlights of his professional career.

Sean most recently appeared in the season two finale of “Looking” for HBO, directed by Andrew Haigh. Additionally, he was seen recurring as Mark Scheffer (aka Shrapnel) on the hit series “Arrow” for The CW. Maher won praise for his portrayal of ‘Don John’ in Joss Whedon’s feature film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and can be seen starring in the upcoming indie sci-fi feature ISRA-88. He is also the voice of ‘Nightwing’ for the Warner Bros / DC Comics animated universe, including Batman Vs. Robin, Batman: Bad Blood, and Justice League Vs. The Teen Titans.

Maher can also be found on the internet playing himself in the web series “Con Man” starring fellow “Firefly” alumni Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion.

“We are pretty thrilled that Sean is coming to the show,” said event director Mark Hodges. “Guests from ‘Firefly’ are requested by the fan base all the time, and it is great that we are able to help fill that need this year. In addition, his roles in ‘Arrow’ and the DC Comics animated films also fit in quite well with the Grand Rapids Comic-Con so we are really looking forward to his appearance.”

The Grand Rapids Comic-Con will be held on October 21-23, 2016, at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Other TV and movie celebrities attending include “Game Of Thrones” veteran Julian Glover, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” alumni Denise Crosby, and Hellboy sidekick Doug Jones.

More information: www.grcomiccon.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/grandrapidscomiccon
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/249963528708213/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/grcomiccon
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/grcomiccon

EXCLUSIVE: Registration Now Open for Long Beach Comic Con 2016 Cosplay Contest

Press Release:

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE LONG BEACH COMIC CON 2016 COSPLAY CONTEST!

One of the Most Celebrated Events of Long Beach Comic Con Returns on September 17!

AUGUST 10, LONG BEACH, CA–Just over a month before the doors open to the seventh annual Long Beach Comic Con, MAD Event Entertainment is pleased to announce registration is now open for this year’s Cosplay Contest!

Hosted by Nerds Like Us’ Rhapsody Artejo & Chad Everett Lee Edward, this year’s contest takes place on Saturday 9/17 at 7:00pm in Room S7 in the Long Beach Convention Center.

“Cosplay has always been one of the most celebrated parts of the show,” says Executive Director and Co-Founder, Martha Donato. “It is very important that our show be friendly to cosplay in every aspect, on and off the show floor, with programming and events geared toward cosplayers from beginners to professionals. Our annual cosplay contest has grown into one of the highlights of the show, and it is always exciting to see the passion that goes into all of the costumes of our participants.”

Entries for this year’s Long Beach Comic Con/Expo cosplay contest will include several categories. Awards will be given for: Best Hero, Best Villain, Best Youth, Best Group, Funniest, Best Tv/Movie, Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Judges’ Choice, and of course, Best in Show. Judges will be scoring for overall difficulty, creativity, accuracy(for recreation), and showmanship/character. Look for further announcements on prizing in the coming weeks!

All participants must register in advance, and complete rules and registration info can be found here (hyperlink to rules on site?)

Enjoy an exciting weekend full of exceptional guests and exhibitors, and engaging panels, at Long Beach Comic Con, Saturday, September 17 from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and Sunday, September 18 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Long Beach Convention Center. The show opens to advance ticket holders at 9:30 AM on Saturday and 10AM on Sunday. Tickets are available now through the website: www.longbeachcomiccon.com.

Follow Long Beach Comic Con on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and information.

ABOUT LONG BEACH COMIC CON: Long Beach Comic Con is an annual event held at the Long Beach Convention Center that celebrates comic books and pop culture and showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators and creators of all types of pop culture. At Long Beach Comic Con, you’ll find exhibitors promoting and selling all types of related products, as well as entertaining and educational programs for all ages, guest signings and meet & greet sessions with celebrities. Long Beach Comic Con is a MAD Event Management, LLC production. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit www.longbeachcomiccon.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Page »